Self-playing piano.



PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

H. MEYER.

SELF PLAYING PIANO,

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2'7. 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

IN VE N TOR WITNESSES.

ATTORNEYS No. 773,406. PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

H. MEYER.

SELF PLAYING PIANO. APPLIOATIONYIILED APR. 27, 1904. N0 MODEL. mums-sum2.

Fab-Z,

LJUUUUUUUUUUUU UUU f4 v BY ATTORNEYS Y PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

H. MEYER.

SELF PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES! //v VENTOR Emmn n Jfe ATTORNE PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

H. MEYER.

SELF PLAYING PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1904.'

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N0 MODEL.

|n HWHN MHHI I M min/853.-

ATTORNEYS PATENTED 001?. 26, 1904.

H. MEYER.

SEL'P PLAYING PIANO. APPLIOATION FILED APR. 27, 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEB-T 5.

N0 MODEL.

. z a IWMHU R w w m w .n a V/r d ATTOR/VE PATENTED OCT. 25, 1904.

H. MEYER.

SELF PLAYING PIANO.

APPLIOATION FILED L27, 1904.

'l SHEETS-SHEET '7.

I 02 MWDDDDHWWHfl yer INVE/VTUR J'Zfrmannalfe Jar WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS Patented October 25 1904.

ATEN'r riuc.

H'ERMANN MEYER, OF NET/V YORK, N. Y.

SELF-PLAYING PIANO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 773,406, dated October25, 1904.

Application filed April 27, 1904:.

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMANN MEYER, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the countyand State ofNew York, have invented a new and Improved Self-PlayingPiano, of which-the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to self-playing musical instruments in which anote-sheet controls the sounding devices.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedself-playingpiano arranged for the note-sheet to automatically control pneumaticdevices for moving either the hammer-rail or the damper-rail into anactive position, to hold the same therein the desired length of time,and to then release the rail for the latter to assume its normalposition.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations ofthe same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointedout in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichsimilar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improvement, parts being insection. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section of the upper portionof the improvement, the section being on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3is a like view of the lower part of the improvement, the section beingon the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the upperportion of the improvement on the line a 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is asimilar View of the lower portion of the improvement on the line 5 5 ofFig. 1. 6 is an enlarged face view of the coin-controlled mechanism.Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the pneumatic valvemechanism for controlling the hammer-rail, the damper-rail, and thestopping mechanism. Fig. 8 is a rear end elevation of the same. Fig. 9is a cross-section of the same on the line 9 9 of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is asimilar view of the same on the line 1O 10 of Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is a planview of part of the tracker-board.

- construction. SlSlZS of hammers D, normally resting'm an Fig.

Serial No. 205,126. (No model.)

Fig. 12 is a face View of part of the notesheet. Fig. 13 is a sectionalplan view of the improvement on the line 13 13 of Fig. l, and

-Fig. 14 is a rear face view of part of the driving mechanism for thenote-sheet-drawing rollers.

The strings A of the self-playing instrument are stretched on astring-frame A, extending in the front of a sounding-board B and heldwith the latter in the usual manner on the piano-frame O. Thepiano-action for sounding the strings A may be of any approved Itpreferably, however, coninactive position on a hammer-rail E, mountednear its ends on links E, fulcrumed at their lower ends on brackets C,fixed on the piano-frame C. The hammer-rail E normally rests on feltedstops (J attached to the brackets O, as plainly indicated in Figs. 2 andi.

The hammers D are fulcrumed at the usual flanges attached to a center orflanged rail F, and the said hammers are actuated by hammer-jacks D,held on jack-rockers D", engaged by key-levers D connected by rods D"with the movable members of pneumatics G, preferably arranged in tiersto economize in space. The key-levers D are fulcrumed on suitableflanges attached on a fixed rail D a s-plainly shown in Fig. 2.

The pneumatics G in each tier are secured.

by their fixed member to the top of a pneumatic valve-chest H, having asuction-chamber H extending from one end of the chest to the other, andeach suction-chamber H for the several valve-chests H is closed at oneend and opens at the other end into a duct H arranged on the side oftheframe C and connected with the suction-chamber l of a suction-bellows I,operated by an actuating mechanism J, driven from a motor K, preferablyof the electrical type, held in the lower portion of the piano-frame C,as plainly indicated in Fig. 1. The actuating mechanism J also drives apair of drawing-rollers L L, between which passes a note-sheet N, tocause the latter to travel over a transversely disposed tracker-board O,fixed to an auxiliary frame 0 forming part of the main frame C, the

said auxiliary frame being provided with a receptacle U for containingthe note-sheet N. (See Figs 1 and 3.)

The note-sheet N is provided with note-apertures N, adapted to registerwith openings 0 in the tracker-board O, which openings 0 are connectedby flexible tubes with inletchambers H, formed in the valve-chests H,provided with pneumatic valve mechanisms, preferably of the constructionshown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 756,674.,granted to me April 5, 190a, so that further detailed description of thesaid valve mechanism is not deemed necessary, it being deemed sufficientto state that when the instrument is in action and a notesheet apertureN registers with a trackerboard opening 0 then the corresponding valvemechanism in a valve-chest H is actuated to connect the correspondingpneumatic (i with the exhaust-chamber H to cause the pneumatic (ir tocollapse. Vhen this takes place, the movable member of the collapsingpneumatic Gr pulls the rod D downward to impart a swinging motion to thekey-lever l) and cause the corresponding hammer ,l) to swing in contactwith its string to sound the same. As soon as the note-sheet aperture Nhas passed out of register with its tracker-board opening O then the airpreviously allowed to pass into the inlet-chamber H by way of the tube Ois now permitted to escape or leak out to allow the valve mechanism toreturn to its previous position, so that atmospheric air passes into thepneumatic l.) to again inflate the same. Vt'hen this takes place, therod I) of this pneumatic moves upward to allow the hammer D to swingback to its normal position of rest against the rail E.

When the music calls for pianissirno playing, then the hammer-rail 1C isautomatically moved rearwardly to bring the hammers 1) into their usualhalf-stroke positions, the same as if the soft-pedal on an ordinarypiano were pressed. For this purpose the following device is provided:On one end of the hammer-rail 1*] (see Fig. &) is journaled a flangedfriction-roller E engaged at its forward face by the upper end of alever E", fulcrumed at E" on the frame C to swing transversely, and thelower end of the said lever E is engaged by a projection P, attached tothe free end of the movable member P of a pneumatic l secured with itsstationary member P" to the frame 0. A flexible tube F" connects thepneumatic P with an exhaustchamber Q in a valve-chest Q, secured to therear face of a wind-chest Pt, attached to the frame (1. (See Figs. 1, 7,8, 9, and 10.) The wind-chest R has its main chamber 1t connected by aduct RKsee Fig. 1) with the duct H, leading to the suction-chamber 1 toexhaust the air from the wind-chest chamber R during the time theinstrument is in action.

The wind-chest chamber 1% is separated by diaphragms S and S (see Figs.7, 9, and 10) from air-chambers R" and R, connected by llexible tubes Rl, with tracker-board openings 0", (see Fig. 11,) adapted to besuccessively opened by openings N N" in the note-sheet N (see Fig. l2)to admit atmospheric air to the chambers R R. ()n the diaphragms S S areadjustably secured the forward ends of valve-stems S S, of which thevalve-stem S extends through the exhaustchamber Q, and the valvestem Sextends through a similar chamber Q, formed in the valve-chest Q,adjacent to the chamber Q, as plainly shown in Fig. 7. On the valvestemS and within the chamber Q are se cured valves S" S, and similar valvesS" S are fastened on the valve-stem S", the valves S" S extending withinthe chamber Q. The valves S S control ports Q Q for connect- ,ing thechambersQ Q with the chamber R, and the valves S control ports Q, Q" forconnecting the chambers Q Q with chambers Q Q formed in the valve-chestQ. The chamber Q contains a dia hragm S, on which the rear end of thevalve-stem S is secured, the diaphragm separating the chamber Q from achamber'Q, connected by a port Q with the chamber Q. A port Q connectsthe chamber Q with the chamber Q and the chamber Q leads to theatmosphere. The diaphragms S S are provided with pin-holes orleak-openings S to allow the air in the chambers R" R" to leak into thechamber R. The port is very small (see Fig. '7) and is mainly intendedas a passage for the valvestem S into the chamber Q The valve closes theport Q whenever the valve S" moves into an open position. Normally thevalves S S are in a closed position while the valves S S are open, asindicated in Fig. 7. The chamber Q is connected by a port Q, (see Fig.10) with a pneumatic Q secured to the under side of the valve-chest Q,and the movable member of this pneumatic Q is provided with a valve Q",(see Figs. 8 and 5),) controlling a port Q leading into the chamber Q.The pneumatic Q. is normally held in an extended position by a spring Q'for the valve Q to normally close the port Q.

The note-sheet opening N is arranged in the note-sheet N at thebeginning of a pianissimo portion called for by the music, and theopening Y is located at the end of the pianissimo portion. \Vhen thenote-sheet opening N uncovers its tracker-board opening 0 then airpasses by the flexible tube R into the chamber R" to press the diaphragmS rearward, thereby moving the valve-stem S" and the valves S" in a likedirection for the valve S" to open the port Q and the valve S' to closethe port \Vhen this takes place, air is sucked out of the pneumatic P byway of the tube .P, chamber Q, port Q", and exhaustchainber R, so thatthe said pneumatic 1 collapses and imparts a swinging motion to the IIOlever E which now swings the hammer-rail E rearwardly, to limit theswinging of the hammers, and thus cause the hammers to sound the stringspianissimo whenever the hammers are actuated by the correspondingnote-sheet openings N, uncovering the corresponding tracker-boardopenings as previously explained.

hen the suction in the chamber Q takes place, then air is sucked out ofthe chamber Q by way of the port Q so that the diaphragm S is held in arearmost position to cause the valve S to remain in an open positioneven after the note-sheet opening N has passed its tracker-board openingO that is, the hammer-rail E' is held by air-pressure in the half-strokeposition until the end of the pianissimo portion called for in the musicis reached. WV hen this takes place, the notesheet opening N moves inregister with the tracker-board opening 0 so that air now passes by wayof the flexible tube R into the chamber R to press the diaphragm Srearwardly, thereby moving the valve-stem S and its valves S S in a likedirection. The valve S now opens the port Q, while the valve S closesthe port Q. The chamber Q is now connected with the exhaust-chamber R,and as the said chamber Q is also connected by way of the port Q withthe chamber Q it is evident that air is exhausted from this chamber Q,and consequently the pressure on the front side of the diaphragm S isreduced to cause the diaphragm S to swing forwardly,

opens the port Q to allow atmospheric air to pass by way of the saidport Q into the chamber Q, from which the atmospheric air can now passby way of the tube P* into the pneumatic P to inflate the same, thusallowing the hammer-rail E and the lever E to swing back to their normalfront positions. (Shown in Fig. 4.) i

It is understood that after the aperture N has passed its tracker-boardopening 0 and air is cut off from the chamber R then the air containedin this chamber R leaks by way of the pin-hole S" into thesuction-chamber R to permit an immediate closing of the valve S", aspreviously explained, whenever the valve S opens the portQ* and air isdrawn from the chamber Q by way of the port Q and the chamber Q hen theaperture N in the note-sheet N has passed its tracker-board opening Oand air is cut off from the chamber R, then the air in this chamber canleak by way of the pin-hole S in the diaphragm S into theexhaust-chamber R to allow the valve sac) close by preponderance ofpressure on the valve S from the chamber Q connected with theatmosphere.

When the valve S moves into a closed position, then atmospheric air canpass by way of the chamber Q and port Qinto the chamberQ and by way ofthe port Q into the pneumatic Q to allow the latter to inflate or openquickly to move the valveQ into a closed position over its port Q. It isunderstood that when the valves S" and S" are in the closed position(shown in Fig. 7) then'the pneumatic P is practically connected with theatmosphere by way of the tube P", chamber Q, port Q chamber Q port Qchamber Q port Q, and chamber Q opening to the atmosphere, .so thatthere is no danger of the pneumatic P becoming accidentally deflated.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that thehammer-railEand the hammers D are hcld in the half-stroke position aslong as the pneumatic P is deflated, and the said pneumatic is retainedin this deflated condition by pneumatic means, and hence mechanicallocking devices for holding the pneumatic closed are entirely dispensedwith.

In order to throw the usual dampers T of the piano-action simultaneouslyout of engagement with the strings A, the damperrail T (see Fig. 2) forengaging the lower ends of the damper-levers T receives a rearwardswinging motion, and for this purpose a pneumatic device is employed,similar to the one above described in reference to the hammer-rail E.The damper-rail T is hung on. arms T fulcrumed on the center rail F, andone end of the said damper-rail T is engaged at its front face by theupper end of a lever T, fulcrumed at T on the frame C. (See Fig. 2.) Thelower end of the lever T" is engaged by the free end of the movablemember of a pneumatic P (see dotted lines Fig. 3,) connected by aflexible tube P with a chamber U, formed in the valve-chest Q andconnected by a port U with the suction-chamber R of the Wind-chest R. Aport U (see Fig. 7) connects the chamber R with a chamber U similar tothe chamber Q, the chamber U corresponding to the chamber Q, previouslymentioned. The wind-chest chamber R is separated by diaphragms S and Sfrom air-chambers R R connected by flexible tubes R" R withtracker-board openings 0* 0 adapted to be successively opened byopenings N N in the note-sheetN(see Figs. 11 and 12) to admitatmospheric air to the chambers R R On the diaphragms S S are securedvalve-stems S S, of which the valve-stem S carries valves S S, and thestem S carries valves S S The valves 8 S normally close the ports U Uwhile the valves S S are normally open relative to the ports U U,connecting the chambers U and U with chambers U U, of which the latterchamber U 0 pens to the atmosphere. The chamber U contains a diaphragmS, on which the rear end of the valve-stem S is seeured,the diaphragmsepa rating the chamber U from a chamber U, connected by a port U withthe chamber U. The diaphragms S S are provided with pinopenings Ssimilar to the pin-holes S in the diaphragms S S. The chamber U isconnected by a port U with the chamber U, and a port U connects thechamber U with a pneumatic U similar to the pneumatic and likewiseprovided with a valve U for controlling a port connecting the outer airwith the interior of the chamber U. The operation of this valvemechanism is similar to the one above described relative to thepneumatic P and hammer-rail E, it being understood that when theinstrument. is in action and the note-sheet N travels in the directionof the arrow at and its aperture l moves in register with thetracker-board opening o then air passes into the chamber R to push thediaphragm S rearwardly in order to move the valve 8 off its seat and thevalve S into a closed position, to connect the chamber U with thechamber R, to draw air by way of the flexible tube P" out of thepneumatic P to impart a swinging motion to the lever T", to swing thedamper-rail T reaxwvardly, thus imparting a simultaneous swinging motionto the damper-levers T to move the dampers T out of engagement with thestrings A. When the hammers D are now actuated, they fully and loudlysound the strings A, as the dampers T are held out of engagement withthe said strings. The valve S is held ol'l the port U by the suctionaction on the diaphragm S, owing to the connection of the chamber U withthe chamber U by way of the port U. The dampers T remain out ofengagement with the strings A until the following notesheet aperture N"moves in register with the tracker-board opening 0", and when this takesplace air passes by way of the tube R into the chamber R to cause thediaphragm S to move rearwardly, and thereby cause the valve S to openthe port U for connecting the chamber R with the chamber U". l/Vhen thistakes place, the valve S" closes the port U, and suction is had. in thechamber U" by way of the port U chamber U", and open port U so that thevalve S" is moved back into a closed position that is, to close the portU to disconnect the chambers U and R. At the same time that this takesplace the suction in the chamber U causes a collapsing of the pneumaticU so that the valve U establishes communication between the outer airand the chamber U for the outer air to pass by way of the tube P intothe pneumatic P to inflate the same, and thereby allow the lever Tdamper-rail T, damper-levers T, and dampers T to return to their formernormal positions that is, to allow the dampers T to move back in contactwith the strings A to damp the same.

From the foregoing it is understood that the movable hammer-rail E andthe movable dam per-rail T are each moved from a normal inactiveposition into and held in active positions by a corresponding specialpneumatic actuating device controlled by a note-sheet aperture, and thispneumatic actuating device is released by a pneumatic releasing devicecontrolled by another note-sheet aperture to allow the hammer-rail E orthe damperrail T to swing back into a normal inactive position at theproper time, as called for by the music.

In order to control the motor K for starting the instrument, acoin-controlled mechanism is provided, which forms the subject-matter ofthe application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No.201,639, [iled by me April 5, 1904:. The coin for the coin-controlledmechanism (shown in Figs. 4 and 6) passes down a suitable coin-chute C",arranged in the frame C for the coin to drop between two spring-pressedslides V and V, of which the slide V is adapted to be moved in the direction of the other slide, V, by a key V under the control of theoperator. The slide V is provided with a hook V, adapted to be engagedby a locking-link V", pressed on by a spring and fulcrumed on one arm ofa bellcrank lever V connected at its other arm by aslotted link V" withthe link V, the slotted link V having an arm V adapted to engage a pin Von the insulating-body V" of a contact-plate V normally out ofengagement with the slide V, as shown in Fig. 4, but adapted to moveinto contact with the said slide, as shown in Fig. 6. The body V of thecontact-plate V is fulcrumed on a support or frame (1" for thecoin-controlled mechanism and is pressed on by a spring V to hold thecontact-plate V in lirm engagement with the slide V, as shown in Fig. 6.The contact-plate V is connected by a wire K with the motor K, the otherwire, K", of which contains a source of electrical supply .K" and isconnected with the support or frame G".

\Vhen the several parts are in the normal position (shown in Fig. &) andthe coin drops down the chute between the slides V and V and theoperator turns the key V", then the slide V, coin, and slide V arepushed from the right to the left against the tension of the springs ofthe slides, so that the hook V first imparts a downward-swinging motionto the link V" for the arm V to sa ing the contactplate V upward, thesaid hook V linally on passing the end of the link V being engaged andlocked in place by the said link to prevent return movement of the slideV. hen the link V" snaps under the hook V, the spring V swings thecontact-plate Vdo\vnward to engage the contact-plate with the slidemusic.

phere.

V to complete the circuit, and consequently to start the motor K. WVhenthis takes place, the motor K drives the actuating mechanism J, which inturn works the bellows I and rotates the drawing-rollers L L to causethe note-sheet N to travel in the direction of the arrow a. After thekey V has been turned and the slide V locked in place by the link V,

V and allowing the same to return to its right hand position by theaction of its spring, and for this purpose the following device isprovided: The bell-crank lever V (see Figs. 4: and 6) is connected by alink V with a bell-crank lever V (see Fig. 5,) connected by a rod V withthe movable member of a pneumatic W, connected by a flexible tube WVwith an exhaust-chamber W formed in the valve-chest Q (see Fig. 7) andconnected by a port W with the chamber R. The wind-chest chamber R isseparated by a diaphragm X from an air-chamber R connected by a flexibletube R with a tracker-board opening O, adapted to be opened by astopaperture N formed in the note-sheet Na distance beyond the terminalof the note-apertures Nthat is, at the end of the piece of On thediaphragm X is secured a valve-stem X, provided with valves X X of whichthe valve X controls the port W and the valve X controls a port W,leading to a chamber VV connected with the atmos- Normally the valve Xis closed, while the valve X is open. When the stopaperture N moves inregister with the trackerboard opening O", then air passes by way of thetube R into the chamber R to press the diaphragm X rearwardly, thusmoving the valve X olf its seat and the'valve X onto its seat todisconnect the chamber W from the atmosphere and to connect the saidchamber W 2 by the port with the chamber R. The air is now exhaustedfrom the pneumatic IV by way of the tube WV, chamber W port and mainexhaust-chamber R to cause the pneumatic W to collapse, and therebyimpart a swinging motion by the link V to the bell-crank lever V, whichby the link V imparts a swinging motion to the bellcrank lever V and thelatter by the link V imparts a downward-swinging motion to the link V tomove the free end thereof out of engagement with the hook V The slide Vis thus unlocked and now immediately slides to its right-hand positionby the action of its spring, and in doing so the slide moves out ofengagement with the contact-plate V for the latter to break themotor-circuit to stop the motor.

It is understood that when the stop-aperture N has passed thetracker-board opening O then the air leaks out of the chamber R by thepin-hole X in the diaphragm X to allow the valve X to return to its seatby atmospheric pressure against the valve X the opening of the latterallowing air to pass by way of the port W", chamber VV and tube W intothe pneumatic W to again inflate the same for the corresponding parts ofthe coincontrolled mechanism to return to their normal positions. (Shownin Fig. 4.)

The actuating mechanism J is provided with a transverse shaft J,journaled in suitable bearings carried by the frame O, and on the saidshaft is secured a pulley J connected by a belt'J with a pulley J, heldon a counter-shaft J connected by a pulley J and belt J with a pulley onthe shaft of the motor K, so that when the latter is actuated, as abovedescribed, a rotary motion is given to the counter-shaftJ which in turndrives the shaft J. The actuating mechanismJ operates the bellows I,which are preferably two in number, each being connected at its movablemember by a link I with a lever 1 fulcrumed at I on the main frame C. Onthe free end, of each lever I is arranged a friction-roller 1* inperipheral contact with a cam I secured on the shaft J, so that when thelatter is rotated the cam I imparts an upward-swinging motion to thecorresponding lever I for the link I to swing the movable member of thebellows I into an open position. The movable member of each bellows I ispressed on by a spring I to cause themovable member to move into aclosed position on the return stroke of the lever l that is, at the timethe cam I swings downward from the frictionroller I and after the latterhas reached its uppermost position.

The drawing-rollers L and L are driven from the actuating mechanism J,and for this purpose the following device is provided: On the shaft J issecured a friction-disk L engaged at its face by the peripheral face ofa friction-pulley L fastened on a shaft L, mounted to slide .in suitablebearings held on the frame O, the said shaft L being engaged by ashifting-lever L under the control of the operator for shifting theshaft L so as to move the friction-pulley L nearer to or farther fromthe axis of the friction-disk L so that a slower or faster motion isgiven to the shaft L" without variation in the speed of thefriction-disk L On the shaft If is secured a sprocketwheel L engaged bya sprocket-chain L passing over suitable guiderollers L to pass around asprocket-wheel L (see Fig. 2) and secured on a counter-shaft IIO Lcarrying a pinion L in mesh with a gearwheel L secured on a shaft L' forthe drawing-roller L. On the drawing-roller L is socured at gear-wheel Lin mesh with a gearwheel L' on the drawing-roller L, so that thedrawing-rollers L and L rotate in unison to draw the note sheet Nforward over the tracker-board Oat thedesired rate of speed that is,according to the time in which the music is to be played.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the motor K drives the actuatingmechanism J, which in turn works the bellows l at the same rate ofspeed; but the drawing-rollers L and L for the note-sheet N are drivenat a varying rate of speed "from the said actuating mechanism J,according to the position given by the operator to the lever L. Thus bythe arrangementdescribed the operator can shift the lever L" to causethe note-sheet N to travel faster or slower, according to the timecalled for by the music to be played, it being, however, expresslyunderstood that the shifting of the lever L does not aflect the workingof the bellows, notwithstanding the bellows and the note-sheet-drivingmechanism are actuated from the same source.

As shown in Fig. 1, the drawing-rollers L and L are located on one sideof the trackerboard 0 and guide-rollers Y and Y are located on theopposite side of the tracker-hoard, between which passes the note-sheetN to the trackerdaoard to give the desired tension to the note sheetwhile in contact with the trackenlioard. The roller Y is preferablyspring-messed, as indicated in Fig. 1, to prevent slack in thenote-sheet while the same passes over the tracker-board.

.IIaving thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent l. A self-playing piano provided with a rail, apneumatic actuating device for throwing the said rail into an activeposition and holding it therein, and a pneumatic releasing device forreleasing the said pneumatic actuating device pneumatically to allow thesaid rail to return to a normal position.

2. A self-playing piano provided with a rail, a pneumaticactuatingdevice for throwing the said rail into an active position and l'ioldingit therein, a pneumatic releasing device for releasing the saidpneumatic actuating device pneumatically to allow the said rail toreturn to a normal position, and a note-sheet having sets of note-sheetopenings of which one controls the said pneumatic actuating device andthe other the said pneumatic releasing device.

3. A self-playing piano provided with a rail, a pneumaticactuatingdevice for throwing the said rail into an active position and holding ittherein, a pneumatic releasing device for releasing the said pneumaticactuating device pneumatically to allow the said rail to return to anormal position, a tracker-board having spaced tracker-board openings,of which one is connected with the said pneumatic actuating device andthe other with the said pneumatic releasing device, and a note-sheethaving sets of note-sheet openings in alinement with the saidtracker-board openings.

4. A self-playing piano provided with a rail, a pneumatic actuatingdevice for throwing the said rail into an active position, holding itthere and releasing it, the said device comprising a lever For engagingthe said rail, a pneumatic tor the said lever, a pneumatic controllingvalve, i'nechanism for controlling the said pneumatic, a pneumaticreleasing-valve mechanism for releasing the said pnemnatic controllingmechanism, a tracker-board having separate connections with the saidpneumatic valve mechanisms, and a note-sheet traveling over thetracker-board and having sets 0 t notesheet openings in alinement withthe said tracker-board openings.

5. A self-playing piano provided with a rail, a pneumatic actuatingdevice for throwingthe said rail into an active position and holding ittherein, and a pneumatic releasing device for releasing the saidpneumatic actuating device pneumatically to allow the said rail toreturn to a normal position, the said pneumatic releasing device, whendormant, connecting the atmosphere with the said pneumatic actuatingdevice when the latter is dormant, the said pneumatic releasing devicehaving a pneumatic valve for admitting air to the said pneumaticactuating device at the time both the said pneumatic actuatii'ig deviceand the said pneumatic releasing device are in action.

6. A sel f-playing piano provided with a rail, a pneumatic actuatingdevice for the said rail, to move the latter into an active position.hold it there and linally release it, the said device having a pneumaticconnected with the rail, a pneumatic valve device provided with a windchest and two valves, one for connecting the wind-chest with thepneumatic, to deflate the same and thereby move the rail into an activeposition and hold it therein and the other valve for connecting thepneumatic with the atmosphere, to inflate the pneumatic and release therail, and a pneumatic releasing device for releasing the saidpneun'iatic actuating device, the said pneumatic releasing device beingprovided with a pneumatic valve for admitting air to the said pneumaticactuating device at the time both devices are in active positions.

7. A self-playingpiano provided witha rail, a pneumatic actuatii'igdevice for throwing the said rail into an active position and holding ittherein, a pneumatic releasing device for releasing the said pneumaticactuating device pneumatically to allow the said rail to return to anormal position, the said pneumatic releasing device, when dormant,connecting the atmosphere with the said pneumatic actuating device whenthe latter is dormant, the said pneumatic releasing device having apneumatic valve for admitting air to the said pneumatic actuating deviceat the time both the said pneumatic actuatlng device and the saidpneumatic releasing device are in action, a

tracker-board having spaced tracker-board openings, of which one isconnected with the said pneumatic actuating device and the other withthe said pneumatic releasing device, and a note-sheet having sets ofnote-sheet openings spaced lengthwise and transversely of the note sheetand in alinement with the said tracker-board openings.

8. In a self-playing piano, the combination with the movablehammer-rail,of a pneumatic actuating device for throwing the said hammer-rail intoan active position and holding it pneumatically therein, and a pneumaticreleasing device for releasing the said actuating device to allow thehammer-rail to return to its normal inactive position.

9. In a self-playing piano, the combination with the movabledamper-rail, of a pneumatic actuating device for throwing the saiddamper-rail into an active position and holding it pneumaticallytherein, and a pneumatic releasing device for releasing the saidactuating device, to allow the damper-rail to return to a normalinactive position.

10. In a self-playing piano,the combination with the movablehammer-rail, of a pneumatic actuating device for throwing the saidhammer-rail into an active position and holding it pneumaticallytherein, a pneumatic relcas ing device for releasing the said actuatingdevice, to allow the hammer-rail to return to its normal inactiveposition, a tracker-board connected with the said pneumatic actuatingdevice and independently with the said pneumatic releasing device, and anote-sheet hav-' ing apertures controlling the tracker-board openingsfor the said devices.

11. In a self-playing piano, the combination with the movabledamper-rail, of a pneumatic actuating device for throwing the saiddamper-rail into an active position and holding it pneumaticallytherein, a pneumatic releasing device for releasing the said actuatingdevice, to allow the damper-rail to return to a normal inactiveposition, a' tracker-board connected with the said pneumatic actuatingdevice and independently with the said pneumatic releasing device, and anote-sheet having apertures controlling the tracker-board openings forthe said devices.

12. A pneumatic mechanism for controlling a pneumatic, comprising apneumatic controlling valve mechanism for deflating the pneumatic andholding it deflated for a given time, a pneumatic releasing valvemechanism for releasing the said pneumatic controlling valve mechanism,to inflate the pneumatic,a trackerboard having separate tracker-boardopenings connected with the said valve mechanisms, and a note-sheethaving separate openings for separately registering with the saidtracker-board openings.

13. In aself-playing piano, the combination with a movable part, such asa hammer-rail, a damper-rail and the like, of a lever for im-. partingmovement to the said part, a pneumatic for imparting a swinging motionto the said lever, a pneumatic controlling valve mechanism for deflatingthe said pneumatic and holding it deflated for a given time, a pneumaticreleasing valve mechanism for releasing the said pneumatic controllingvalve mechanism, for the latter to allow the pneumatic to reinflate, atracker-board having separate tracker-board openings connected with thesaid valve mechanisms, and a note-sheet having separate openings forseparately and successively registering with the said trackerboardopenings.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to th1s speclfication 1n thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMANN MEYER.

WVitnesses:

THEO. G. HosTER, EVERARD' BoL'roN MARSHALL.

